Weekly Wire: NBCC Session Spotlight, Special Section on State Paid Leave, and more

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Weekly Wire: NBCC Session Spotlight, Special Section on State Paid Leave, and more

5/5/2023

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Give in Honor of Mothers Across the Nation This Mother's Day!
- Reminder: Philanthropy With An Equity Lens Webinar
- NBCC Session Spotlight: Communication Strategies to Bolster Support for Breastfeeding
- Welcoming New USBC Members: Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition & Southwest Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition
- Resource to Operationalize DEI at Your Organization: Equity Champions Directory
National News
- Submissions Open for New AHRQ Evidence Reviews
- Parent Town Hall on Pregnant & Postpartum Workers
- Congressional Research Services Report on Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Workers
- What to Expect from Your Employer When You're Expecting Webpage
State & Community News
- New York Bill to Require Human Trafficking Information in Lactation Rooms Introduced
- Pennsylvania Bill to Expand Rights of Lactating Students Introduced
Special Section on State Paid Leave Legislation
News & Views

denotes a USBC member organization news item denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

USBC Updates

Give in Honor of Mothers Across the Nation This Mother's Day!

We are four months into the Congressional session, and so much is already underway to advance the lactation field's policy priorities that can make a real impact for families. We finished 2022 with a major collective victory - the passage of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, which extends the right to take lactation breaks during the workday to nearly all workers! But passing the law doesn't mean our work is finished. As Mother's Day approaches, we are taking a moment to ask for your support to help us advance our legislative priorities. In honor of Mother's Day and the tireless efforts of moms, show your commitment to a cause you believe in by making a one-time donation to the USBC or committing to a monthly recurring donation today!

Reminder: Philanthropy With An Equity Lens Webinar

Join us on Wednesday, May 10, at 2 p.m. ET for the "Philanthropy With An Equity Lens" webinar. Operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion has become one of the highest priorities for organizations seeking to advance health equity, including organizations in the philanthropic sector. Many leaders of private foundations and public charities are intentionally shifting their organization's practices and culture to reflect trust-based values and center communities as the core of social change. In this session, we'll hear from Dr. Cara James, President and CEO of Grantmakers in Health, a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people. Registrants are encouraged to share their questions ahead of the session.

NBCC Session Spotlight: Communication Strategies to Bolster Support for Breastfeeding

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is officially counting down the weeks until this year's National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening. With only a month left to go until we convene again in person, we're looking forward to hosting three days of dynamic presentations designed to enrich participants and enhance connections. On Saturday, June 10, we'll be hearing from a powerful panel of presenters in a session titled "Raise Your Voice: Communication Strategies to Bolster Support for Breastfeeding." In this session, we will hear from Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities and members of the PUMP Act Coalition as they share the strategies and methods they have used to mobilize communities to advance policy, systems, and environmental changes that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding and human milk feeding. Register for the conference now and join us in Bethesda, Maryland, from June 8-10!

Welcoming New USBC Members: Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition & Southwest Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is pleased to welcome two new organizations to the USBC membership. The Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition is an association of regional representatives, businesses, parents, lactation consultants, and other healthcare professionals striving to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding in all areas of life. The Southwest Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition comes with a mission to educate, enable, and engage their community to improve the health of Southwest Ohio citizens by promoting, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding and human milk feeding.

Resource to Operationalize DEI at Your Organization: Equity Champions Directory

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosts the Equity Champions Directory, a helpful resource for individuals and organizations to find support in operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their internal structures, policies, and programs. The directory is free and accessible on the USBC website. If your organization is committed to taking the next step in its equity journey, we encourage you to visit the directory to find equity coaches, consultants, trainers, speakers, and evaluators that can help. To be considered for inclusion in the directory, we invite you to tell us about your expertise using the submission form. Please note that the inclusion of an individual in the Equity Champions Directory does not signify USBC endorsement of training content or views.

National News

Submissions Open for New AHRQ Evidence Reviews

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Program announced that the agency has opened submissions for new evidence reviews. The AHRQ EPC Program reviews and summarizes the available evidence on current health care issues, such as tests, treatments, and methods of health care delivery, and describes their advantages or disadvantages. These reviews are based on relevant published and unpublished scientific literature and provide comprehensive, evidence-based information to consumers, clinicians, and policymakers. Evidence reports can provide a foundation for developing and implementing practice guidelines, performance measures, educational programs, and other strategies to improve the quality of healthcare and decision-making related to the effectiveness and appropriateness of specific healthcare technologies and services. Unique and new topic submissions will be prioritized. The deadline to complete online submissions is Saturday, June 3.

USBC Insight: This is a high-level policy lever for potential change. 1019 evidence reviews have been submitted since 2009, five of which are related to breastfeeding. Learn more about successfully submitting a topic to AHRQ.

Parent Town Hall on Pregnant and Postpartum Workers

MomsRising, A Better Balance, ParentsTogether, and MomsRising are convening working parents for the "Protecting Pregnant & Postpartum Workers: Parent Town Hall" on Wednesday, May 10, at 1 p.m. ET. In honor of Mother’s Day, the event will feature information on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, how to request accommodations from your employer, where to get help, and how you can make a change in your community.

Congressional Research Services Report on Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Workers

The Congressional Research Services published an In Focus report titled "New Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Workers." The report discusses the newly passed Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The report summarizes these two statutes, placing them in context and highlighting the ways they draw on and differ from existing laws. It explains who qualifies for accommodations, what employers must provide, and the limits of employers' responsibilities.

What to Expect from Your Employer When You're Expecting Webpage

The Department of Labor (DOL), Wage and Hour Division published a webpage titled, "What to Expect from Your Employer When You're Expecting." The webpage features recordings of DOL's webinar series for advocates, health care providers, and employers on the workplace rights of new and expectant mothers, information on upcoming webinars, and resources for pregnant and postpartum workers.

State & Community News

New York Bill to Require Human Trafficking Information in Lactation Rooms Introduced

Assemblymember Amy Paulin introduced Assembly Bill 4265. The legislation would amend the transportation law in the state of New York to require information concerning services for human trafficking victims to be made available in lactation rooms in commercial service airports.

Pennsylvania Bill to Expand Rights of Lactating Students Introduced

A group of Pennsylvania legislators introduced House Bill 994. The legislation would provide accommodations for pregnant, lactating, and parenting students. Schools would be required to provide access to a private, clean space and the time to express breast milk or breastfeed a child, as well as access to a place to safely store expressed breast milk.

Special Section on State Paid Leave Legislation

The United States is one of the only countries in the world without a national paid family and medical leave program. Access to paid leave has a significant impact on breastfeeding outcomes, and the USBC and the lactation field have been active in efforts to increase access to paid leave. In the absence of a national paid leave program, many states have introduced legislation to establish state programs. Highlights from the field on this policy area include:

Illinois:
- A group of Illinois Senators introduced the Paid Family Leave Insurance Program Act (SB 2217). The program would provide eligible employees up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for an employee's own health or the health of a family member; to care for a child after birth, adoption, or foster placement; for reproductive health care; or following a domestic violence incident.
- The Illinois Time to Care Coalition launched an individual action tool titled “Tell your legislators: Pass Paid Family and Medical Leave now!” The action tool can be used to urge Illinois policymakers to establish a strong Paid Family and Medical Leave program for the state of Illinois.
Nevada:
- The Nevada Assembly Committee on Government Affairs introduced Assembly Bill 376. The legislation would provide up to 8 weeks of paid family leave for bonding with a newborn child or newly adopted child, recovering from or undergoing treatment for a serious illness, caring for a seriously ill family member, or military deployment of an immediate family member. The program would provide 50 percent of the employee's regular wage.
North Carolina:
- A group of North Carolina legislators introduced the North Carolina Paid Family Leave Insurance Act (SB 418). The program would provide up to 18 weeks of paid family and medical leave for the birth, adoption, or placement of a child through foster care; to care for their own or a family member's serious health condition; or to respond to the needs of military service members.
- A group of North Carolina legislators introduced An Act to Provide Eight Weeks of Paid Parental Leave to All State Employees (SB 421). The bill would provide up to 8 weeks of fully paid parental leave to state employees.
Oklahoma:
- A group of Oklahoma Senators introduced and the Oklahoma House and Senate advanced Senate Bill 193. The legislation would allow full-time state employees who have worked for the state for at least two years to take six weeks of paid maternity leave for the birth or adoption of the employee's child.
- Oklahoma Senator Thompson and Representative Lowe introduced and the Oklahoma House and Senate advanced House Bill 2180. The bill would provide 8 weeks of paid maternity leave for full-time public school district employees who have been employed by the district for at least 1 year and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months.
- Oklahoma Representative Dollens introduced House Bill 1994. The legislation would require the Department of Labor to establish a family temporary disability insurance program providing up to 12 weeks of wage replacement benefits to employees who take time off work to care for a seriously ill or injured child, spouse, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or domestic partner, or to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption.
Pennsylvania:
- Pennsylvania Representative Briggs introduced the Paid Family Leave Act (HB 474). The bill would require employers with at least four employees to provide 12 weeks of paid leave to employees meeting the eligibility requirements under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.